Afghan election head assassinated

The head of Afghanistan's election commission has been shot dead by the Taliban, a day after he warned deteriorating security threatened next year's presidential elections.

The Taliban's elusive leader Mullah Omar sent a message to the Afghan people in August rejecting the elections and vowing to fight until foreign troops leavePhoto: EPA

By Reuters

9:44AM BST 18 Sep 2013

Amanullah Aman began his work during the first presidential election in 2004. He was the commission's first member to be assassinated since it started work in May.

The Taliban claimed responsibility. The group's elusive leader Mullah Omar sent a message to the Afghan people in August rejecting the elections and vowing to fight until foreign troops leave. Most troops are due to withdraw by the end of next year.

"Two gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on Engineer Amaan this morning," said Kunduz police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini. "Amaan was on his way to work when he was attacked in Kunduz city."

He died of his wounds in hospital.

Just a day before he was killed, the commission head had told Reuters worsening security made fraud, like stuffing ballot boxes, a serious threat to the process.